Table Etiquette and Lay Up -101

Ever gone for a formal dinner or lunch at any of the fine dine restaurants ,or was it a formal or corporate event and you were met up with this elaborately set up table?You quickly start panicking inside but since you do not want to show that you are not from the village{read:Home or Mshamba} you silently take up your seat but your mind races with several questions and thoughts such as ....why this many spoons? What do i start with? Which glass is for water or should i drink straight from the bottle?with which hand should i hold the knife or the fork?.....the questions always seem to be endless and i know if you are like me sometime back you go into safemode...i.e allow the other person to start and follow the lead, and if he is in the same boat as you...that's where the drama begins.

Simply put a picture speaks a thousand words...therefore acquaint yourself with the attached photo/infographics ...they may prove to be your savior from now on.

This kind of Table etiquette and setup came to our continent by ship therefore there is no need to feel embarrassed. Take sometime to learn the westernized culture but at the same time if you are eating African cuisine ,please elect to keep it local.Dig into that 'Ugali' with your your fistcup  shaped hand.As long as your hands are clean and washed you will be right in order.The Japanese/Chinese also have their unique table etiquette and they have exported it worldwide and i t has gained appeal.It therefore stands to reason that we must be proud of our local [Read: Traditional] etiquette and table manners otherwise it will not have appeal to others.

And right...don't eat while talking or with your mouth open at the same time(some guys are able to do that) its so irritating-that's just universal table manners !

Inaugural Nairobi Restaurant Week 2014 !

#NRW2014 : From 30 January to 12 February, 2014 food lovers in Nairobi have had the opportunity to experience Nairobi's first Restaurant week and by all signs and show this was a culinary success.So delightful was the event that one week festival was extended from 6th February to the 12th due to public interest and demand.

What perhaps made this event a sellout was the fact that guests could experience fine dining from Kenya's premier restaurants and avant garde chefs at an amazing low price of between Kshs 1,250 and Kshs 1,750 inclusive of all taxes. Now that's a deal that every foodie would grasp at(today is the last day...what are you waiting for rush to any of the participating restaurants and order their prix fixe (fixed price )menu at the foresaid price and enjoy a fantastic meal.Beer lovers well Brew Bistro and Sierra are participating so get to taste the best of locally prepared fresh beer and other drinks to your liking.Since this will be an annual event, please may Nairobi Restaurant Week 2015 #NRW2015 not miss you.

The official website listing the participating outlets and sponsors is NairobiRestaurantWeek.Com they also have a Facebook page and Twitter Hash Tag #NRW2014, you can also check Instagram tagged photos to visually experience this event soon to be  a premier African Food Festival and a must visit for tourists eager to experience the best of East African cuisine.

End of Year Office Parties: Do's and Donts !

Office Party Buffet Spread

Another year is biting the dust of the sands of time and yes once again many organizations are having their end year parties.Come January the HR & Personnel Departments will have a heck of a time with the suspensions,counseling and even outright dismissals that accompany such events.Office parties remain still strictly business events.

It follows that some practical wisdom needs to be applied during this period.This post is not about the ethics and mores that accompany this events, that's up to the personal values of each individual but its focus is on do's and dont's and office party tips from a culinary perspective in no particular order.                                                

 

  Office Party Donts !

If you are in HR or the Office Party Organizing Committee -Do Not ask for food samples from a caterer and cancel when the delivery is on the way to your office(had to include this and put it at the top of my list as here at LetsCulinate we have had two major disappointing experiences from high tier organizations where the organizers did not have the courtesy to inform us in advance but waited for the last minute to cancel the request.Caterers have feelings and even free samples involve costs and effort ).Only request for samples when you are serious and committed.

Dont hire just any caterer or settle for any food establishment, do some good research and food sampling before you decide on the location or caterer.Food poisoning can be lethal and ending the year with serious food poisoning issues is not a nice way to end one.

Do not take a lot of alcohol .It may just limit your inhibitions, ruin your palate, result in vomiting, expose an ugly side of your personality to your employers/colleagues/business associates...etc.Over use and or misuse of  alcohol has resulted in flings,ruined marriages,fights between colleagues...etc the list is actually endless.This period is especially a peak period for this kind of events.

Dont mix alcoholic drinks.If you are taking wine ,don't take beer after the wine being served finishes.If you are taking beer ,don't take wine after the beer finishes.The issue lies not really in the mixing but the amount of alcohol consumed.If you are unable to take count of the amount of alcohol you have consumed the likelihood of getting discomfort because of alcohol consumed is highly increased.The two old adages "Beer after wine and you will feel fine;wine after beer and you will feel queer" and " Beer before liquor never been sicker;liquor before beer ,you are in the clear" don't count in this instance.

Do not take a lot of carbohydrates or meat (Nyama Choma) with the excuse that you are going to drink a lot of  alcohol. This just slows the rate of absorption but does not limit the effect of the alcohol eventually on you.

Dont overfill your plate.Put a small portion of what you like ,often the food is enough and the service line is often set up to fill you with the less interesting/expensive/tasty stuff.

Do not eat too much.Gluttony is not a skill that employers look for nor does it suit in your cv.Dont let it creep in through the office party.

Dont cut the food or drink line.

Dont eat just anything and everything.You don't want to have a running stomach before your colleagues.Experiment new foods cautiously ,if you have a sensitive stomach stick to your comfort zones.

                                                          

 Office Party Do's

• Do take a lot of water and or juices if you intend to take alcohol.At least a glass of water for every glass of alcohol is a good rule to live by.
• Do avoid spicy and oily foods, you don't want to spend the holidays burning up accumulated fats/calories.It makes for time to relax.Very spicy food may not be too kind to your stomach unless you are used to it.
• Do take alcohol /wine in moderate amounts .A glass or two of fine wine can actually clear your palate preparing you to enjoy the meal.
• Do leave room for desserts on your plate, unless a separate plate is offered .In that case obey the good advice of Presidential Candidate Abduba Dida Leave room for air and water!

 

• Avoid high risk foods i.e fish fillets,fried chicken (especially if they have been sitting in the baine marie/serving bowls for a long period :the moisture around them is fertile grounds for harmful bacteria)  beans(Njahi)-unless they have been prepared by a professional chef or cook who has prepared them well and ensured uncooked/unprocessed proteins have been drained off.  
• Be your natural self,remain calm relaxed and cool throughout the event.Your demeanor and self control may just result in career growth and other benefits.
• If you are in the HR or Organizing Committee Do Cocktails and Platters this are a safer bet and will allow the staff to better mingle and converse and enjoy the event holistically.At lets Culinate we have an impressive array of avant garde professionalized menu that we are willing to discuss with serious corporate customers.

Please note that majority of the tips on this list focus on alcohol use. A lot of the requests we have received the major portion of the budget and emphasis is placed on alcohol rather than food. It seems the end year office party may just be another excuse for over drinking at the office or with the office staff !

If you are interested in a corporate solution for your end year party, menu advice or tips.Kindly drop us a message on our Facebook page.We are currently receiving inquiries and requests.